Owen could see what she was doing. Before she could argue or say anything, he stepped up and took her hands in his. Threading their fingers together, he just stood there, facing her, holding her hands and their sides. He rubbed her knuckles with his thumbs, ok, having to put down the other stuff to take her hands.
"Bloody scared," he whispered. Leaning forward, he pressed his forhead to hers. He'd never been this open with anyone. The closest was when he'd tried to be this open with Diane, and he saw how that ended. It was one of the reasons he tried to play things so close to the chest.